title: Long-term follow-up of patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis treated conservatively: an analysis of the clinical value of progression.
abstract: In a retrospective study, 217 patients with conservatively treated adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) were investigated. Forty-nine cases were operated and 168 were treated only conservatively and had been out of the brace for at least 4 years at the time of the investigation. The progression between cessation of brace treatment and follow-up (a mean of 6.9 years later) was 5.1 degrees. Almost all progression (4.5 degrees) occurred within 2 years of the end of weaning, however. The incidence of failure with regard to the length of follow-up was also studied. A follow-up of 2 years was sufficient to predict with great accuracy (97%) all incidences of failure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Malmö General Hospital, University of Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Montgomery
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Willner
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Appelgren
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000365:Age Determination by Skeleton; D001915:Braces; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*